KKR look to bounce back against Auckland
15 Oct 2012 8:26 AM IST
Their morale low after a 52-run drubbing at the hands of Delhi Daredevils, IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders will look to bounce back when they take on rampaging qualifiers Auckland in a Group A match of Champions League Twenty20 on Monday.
Kolkata had a disappointing start to their campaign after they were mauled by Delhi comfortably. Their bowlers did a decent job to restrict Delhi to 160 for eight but it was the failure of the batsmen which would rattle them, especially the top order which contributed three ducks to the total.
Opener Manvinder Bisla, Brendon McCullum and skipper Gautam Gambhir, all came a cropper against Delhi and they would have to do a lot of soul-searching before they take the field on Monday. That Kolkata could score only 108-7 in 20 overs, despite batting deep, will surely bother Gambhir and the onus would be on him to lead from the front, like he did during IPL V early this year.
Auckland, on the other hand, had a dream start in the tournament. The New Zealanders notched up two convincing victories during their qualifying matches. They opened their campaign with a six-wicket win over Sialkot Stallions before taming Hampshire by eight wickets.
Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has been their most valuable player so far. He picked up a five-for against Hampshire in their last match besides scoring a match-wining unbeaten 55 and he would surely look to continue in the same vein on Monday.
Kolkata had a disappointing start to their campaign after they were mauled by Delhi comfortably. Their bowlers did a decent job to restrict Delhi to 160 for eight but it was the failure of the batsmen which would rattle them, especially the top order which contributed three ducks to the total.
Opener Manvinder Bisla, Brendon McCullum and skipper Gautam Gambhir, all came a cropper against Delhi and they would have to do a lot of soul-searching before they take the field on Monday. That Kolkata could score only 108-7 in 20 overs, despite batting deep, will surely bother Gambhir and the onus would be on him to lead from the front, like he did during IPL V early this year.
Auckland, on the other hand, had a dream start in the tournament. The New Zealanders notched up two convincing victories during their qualifying matches. They opened their campaign with a six-wicket win over Sialkot Stallions before taming Hampshire by eight wickets.
Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood has been their most valuable player so far. He picked up a five-for against Hampshire in their last match besides scoring a match-wining unbeaten 55 and he would surely look to continue in the same vein on Monday.
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